Page 33

Reaper

“Okay,” Player said, looking at the legal pad in front of him. “So, this is the new lineup. Bullseye has begrudgingly and reluctantly accepted the VP position.”

Bullseye growled, mumbling to himself while the brothers hid their smiles.

Everyone knew Bullseye didn’t want the responsibility.

Cranky bastard was still butt hurt because he had to play Prez for a year.

He would never let me forget that.

“Massacre, you’re the new Sergeant at Arms.”

“That’s right, you fuckers.” The big man grinned from ear to ear, rubbing his hands in glee. Brothers moaned loudly while a few flipped him the one finger bird.

“Matrix is still the treasurer,” Player stated as Matrix nodded.

“I’m still the Secretary, and Phantom is Intel. That just leaves the enforcer position.”

“Mine,” Sandman growled from the corner of the room.

Everyone ignored him as Player added, “Still need a volunteer to work with Sandman.”

“Agreed,” I said, nodding. “Sorry, brother, but we’re not leaving you alone with anyone.”

While I knew Sandman was more than capable of doing the job, he still went off the rails when faced with his darkness. The lovable brother would always have a hankering for blood, but it was our job to rein him in.

“I can work with him,” Ravage spoke up, looking at Sandman and asking, “You okay with that, Solomon?”

Sandman nodded while Bullseye’s head snapped up. “You sure about that, Ravage?”

“Got no problem, as long as no one questions my methods.”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“You saying I can’t do it, VP?” Ravage challenged.

“No.” Bullseye shook his head. “Not saying that.”

“Then what is your problem?”

Bullseye narrowed his eyes and growled, “You know what the problem is, Ravage.”

Ravage sighed. “I can control it.”

I understood that Bullseye was worried about his cousin.

Most of us knew of Ravage’s past and while it wasn’t as colorful as Sandman’s, it was damn close. The man was deadly and proficient with his machete, which he kept close at all times.

He was also one of the best trackers in the world.

There was no one who would escape Ravage when he was on their trail.

“Job’s yours,” I said, putting an end to this argument as Bullseye looked questioningly at me. Sighing, I added, “If you have a better idea, Bullseye, speak up because it’s one job no one really wants, except Sandman. And we all know Sandman needs a babysitter.”

The big man growled, stepping out of the shadows.

Rolling my eyes, I held up my hand. “Bad choice of words, brother. Sorry.”

“You really want to put two highly trained killers in the same room together?”

“For the record.” Ravage grinned. “Sandman has killed more than me.”

Sandman nodded, crossing his arms over his chest, glaring.

“It’s settled, Bullseye. Get used to it,” I added, halting anything more he was about to say. I turned back to Player, motioning for him to continue.

“Stitch will arrive next week. The infirmary is ready for him. Also, Massacre and I got word from our cousin Axel. He will be here next month. Aunt Maria has agreed to the move.”

“Sounds good. Any word from Viper or Bayou?”

“Reached out to the Bourbon Kings. Gator sent Juju after them.”

“Anything else?”

“Just one more thing.”

“Which is?”

Player gulped, slowly looking around the room before continuing, “Your punishment.”

Every brother slowly rose to their feet, grinning.

“Excuse me?” I said in shock when I looked at all my brothers, who were all now standing, looking at me. This was the first church meeting in the new clubhouse. The clubhouse turned out better than I thought. Bigger, stronger, and secure. It rivaled the Tennessee club. With perimeter fences and security everywhere, the club and the grounds were a fortress.

More importantly, it was safe.

The town of Purgatory happily welcomed the club and the brothers back into the community. Of course, it helped when Matrix dropped a huge donation for the public school system. With half of the club kids in school, he felt it would go a long way to ease tensions.

He was right.

The new sheriff even drove out along with his two deputies, wanting to introduce himself. He had heard what our club did to help bring down the Society and offered to help us in any way possible. While he knew some of the things we’d done weren’t completely legal, he offered to look the other way as long as it got the guilty off the streets.

Purgatory was a clean town and he wanted to keep it that way.

I did too.

Sitting up, I looked at my brothers, narrowing my eyes.

“What punishment?” I growled.

Bullseye smiled happily, stating, “Per club rules, the President of the Golden Skulls is not above any brother. He leads by example. If his actions or decisions harm the club, a brother, or woman affiliated with the club, the President will receive punishment in two forms. One, he will subject himself to the Golden Lineup, allowing every patched member in the club one hit. Two, the President will pay restitution to those he harmed.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” I shouted, jumping to my feet. “You all want to take a whack at me!”

Everyone smiled happily, nodding.

“And more.” Bullseye grinned. “Because that’s just the first part of your punishment. There is also the restitution that needs to be paid.”

“What restitution?” I sneered.

“Well, first off, there is the shit you put Massacre through.”

“That motherfucker volunteered!”

“Then there is forcing me to do your job.”

“There was no one else, asshole. You really wanted to force Sandman into the Prez position?”

The big man growled from the shadows.

“What about Remi?” Bullseye challenged.

I whispered, “She’s not here. I can’t pay restitution to someone who isn’t here.”

“No, but you can to all of us. Face it, Reaper. You fucked up by not including all of us. You yourself said no more lies, no more secrets. You went back on your word and for that alone, you will face the Golden Lineup. Maybe this time, it will sink in. This club isn’t just one man. We are a brotherhood. A family. We all work together as one.”

Bullseye was right.

They all were.

I fucked up again and that was on me. I hurt my brothers, endangered them, but more importantly, I destroyed the one woman who believed and trusted me the most.

For that alone, I deserved much more.

“Fine,” I growled. “When do you want to do this?”

“Now,” Sandman grumbled, leading the way out of church while the rest of the brothers followed.

Bullseye walked over to me, slapping me on my back. “Just be happy we’re not back at the Tennessee Chapter, ‘cause Digger wanted you to walk blindfolded in the back forty and if you survived, Stella had plans for your ass.”

I cringed at that.

Stella was mean as hell when pissed.

Following me out into the common room of the new clubhouse, I saw that all the members had lined up in a circle, waiting eagerly to take their turn. Walking into the center, I shook my head, bracing myself for what was about to happen when Phantom stepped forward first. “You know I still love you, right?”

I gulped. “Yeah.”

“Good, because if you ever put this club through that shit again, I’ll rip your dick off and staple it above the entrance to the clubhouse.”

Before I could respond, my Golden sister reared back, punching me in the nose. My eyes watered instantly as she stepped away and Player stepped forward.

“You cost me two years with my brother, Prez. He’s a pain in the ass, but he’s mine. My blood.”

“I understand, Player.”

“Good,” the easygoing brother said right before he hauled off and hit me square in the jaw.

Fuck, that hurt.

Rubbing my face, I watched as Matrix walked up to me.

“You gave me a second chance when I didn’t deserve one. So, I will give you the same,” Matrix said before taking his pound of flesh.

One after another, the brothers walked over and exacted their punishment, but when Sandman walked over, I braced myself.

The biggest fucker in the club, we all knew getting hit by him was like getting hit by a Mack Truck.

The brother never held back.

So, when the big man hugged me, I was confused.

“Thank you for getting me back to my Sunshine.”

Nodding, I looked up at the man, thinking that was it.

I should have known it wasn’t because before I could blink, Sandman threw his fist, which landed squarely against my jaw, throwing me off my feet, before landing hard on the floor.

Seeing stars, I groaned in pain just as the front door of the club opened.

Breathing through the pain, I couldn’t see who it was, but hearing dead silence reign around me, I tried to roll over, when I heard the one voice I thought I’d never hear again.

“Is it my turn, yet?”